Are the deals dying?

[KristiaMarie]

It has been maybe two months since I began 'extreme couponing' so you can definitely call me a newbie but I do have a decent stockpile and don't consider myself 'green'.

I have seen a few threads on HCW about how couponing had gotten harder with store policy changes, YMMV situatuions, anti-coupon attitudes, etc.

Also how the amount of frees, mm, and good deals has been dwindling compared to the past.

My question is what is your opinion on this? I am really curious because I am newer so I don't have the perspective; do you see a shift in the coupon-economy?

KM

[angeleyeza]

depends on the seasons. usually in dec- jan its the fill your freezer months and lots of soups and warm foods but lately not alot has been on sale Maybe the big CO's are getting bored of putting the same items on sale?

[silefer]

well I sure hope not or we are going to start growing all our food! lol I have a garden and get most of my veggies from there, but I live in Utah so not much comes out in the winter . I am new to this and I hope I get the hang of it because I do need it bad , I have to admit the whole briefcases full of coupons and organizing skills these women have make me dizzy lol

[Amniculus]

I think the worst time for grocery deals are the holiday months. Coupons are limited and store ads are shorter. They can't have a big mega sale at Kroger during the holiday- they need the man power on the registers.

Most people shop with the idea, "that's it's the holiday season, I can splurge a little" grocery stores use this to their advantage, by not running good sales. Manufacturers know it as well and limit their coupons.

[cpnmaniac44]

Originally Posted by KristiaMarie It has been maybe two months since I began 'extreme couponing' so you can definitely call me a newbie but I do have a decent stockpile and don't consider myself 'green'. I have seen a few threads on HCW about how couponing had gotten harder with store policy changes, YMMV situatuions, anti-coupon attitudes, etc. Also how the amount of frees, mm, and good deals has been dwindling compared to the past. My question is what is your opinion on this? I am really curious because I am newer so I don't have the perspective; do you see a shift in the coupon-economy? KM

it may depend on where you are. If you live in Charlotte for example you have 6 store chains and 3 of them double up to .99 daily. 2 of the 6 have periodic super doubles or triples.

I've noticed a decline in the number of pages in the inserts that even have coupons on those pages. Some weeks here and there they are packed with coupons. I notice less .50/1, .75/1 and more $1/2 or .75/2 coupons. More "do not double" coupons are appearing though they can be doubled. A slight increase in coupons that have a code 9, especially peelies.
Prices have gone up, good coupons gone down.
Store policies hurt some, as we have chains that have limits of 4 like coupons, another store has a limit of 10. Another puts limits when they have B1G1 free sales, like a limit of 2 free. One store chain limits internet coupons to 2. All good things come to an end. I'd say it has slowed down but far from dead. Dead will be when all the upc code "5" become a 9.

[zydeco]

I've been doing this for a while.... and I actually try and take the Jan/Feb from stockpiling. We use up the food deals from the year. But that's not to say I'm blind to good buys that come my way.

[nida84]

i have definitely felt a decrease in 'deals' from summer to now. i started in summer.... so it could be that in the beginning i tried to get every deal. now I only get what i or my family will use and i avoid certain places like walgreens i cant stand their stupid RR program and i saw to heck with those deals, which arent that great ANYWAY

but also for sure seeing decrease in high value q's and good super double or triple sales

[Hotmama111]

I do think there is definitely less product on shelves compared to previous years. That means less freebies w/ clearance deals BOO!!!

[mama22qts]

I've been couponing over five years. I can tell you that there has DEFINITELY been a decrease in the freebies. CVS didn't have a limit on the ECB deals for a LONG TIME. It was wonderful. I am still working on my Electrasol stockpile from 2007! Freebies now are not such that you can stock up for a few years. It's something you have to be adding to all the time, five or six, maybe 10 or max, 20 items at a time. At least that's the case where I am. It can get discouraging, for sure.

[manders13]

Originally Posted by mama22qts Freebies now are not such that you can stock up for a few years. It's something you have to be adding to all the time, five or six, maybe 10 or max, 20 items at a time. At least that's the case where I am. It can get discouraging, for sure.

ditto!